Read Online INK: Fine Lines (Book 1) by Bella Roccaforte - Free Book Online
Authors: Bella Roccaforte
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banging on the door again. I swing the door open and give him a hard stare. “You’re going to wake her up.” I shake my head at what an incredible asshole he is. I can’t believe he and I were ever best friends.
If I’m going to let him in I need to set some ground rules. “You can come in, but this is my home and it’s a no-bullshit zone.”
Aiden doesn't like not calling the shots. He takes too long to answer; all I can do is shake my head. “This isn’t about us, this is about her. She needs us both, and if we can’t get along we are both abandoning her.” I have to bite my tongue to keep from cutting him deeper with the abandonment crack.
“You're right.” Aiden spits the words out like they are poison and pushes past me, putting the coffee on the breakfast bar. “So let’s get a few things straight when it comes to Shay.”
Aw shit, here we go. I run my fingers through my hair but before he gets started I stop him. “Aiden, the only thing we need to have straight about Shay is that she has her own mind, her own opinions. Why don’t we just give her some peace?”
“You’re going to leave her alone?” Aiden is doubtful that’s what I’m implying.
“If she wants me to leave her alone I will. I have always respected her choices, regardless of whether I agreed with them or not.” I’m reminded of all the times I’ve just let her go, so she could get screwed over again by him.
Aiden lets out a quick laugh and shakes his head. “I can live with that.”
“Okay.” I know what he’s saying, but at least he’s not saying it out loud, which is strange for Aiden. Whatever, time to wind down. I head for the fridge. “Want a beer?”
“Sure.” Aiden takes the beer and we head for the great room.
I sit in the most comfortable chair and lean back, closing my eyes. ”Hell of a day, huh?”
“Never a dull moment with her.” Aiden smiles, but it quickly fades. “So what happened?”
“Nothing really. You know how she is. She started getting nostalgic and talking about when we were in Atlanta. Then a walk down memory lane led to some-” I look up from my respite to see Aiden’s displeased expression and stop cold.
“I mean with Gary and Alice.” His tone is flat.
“Oh.” Whoops. I take a second to think about it—this requires another swig from my beer. “It was so awful. Gary was cut to pieces, and CSU couldn’t find his organs.” I choke back a belch before I continue, “Alice was hung upside down from the rafters in the garage. Gary’s eyes were on the floor in front of her. Whoever did this has serious issues.” I shake my head, pulling my lips to the side, forming a half-grimace.
“Do you know if they have any leads other than Shay?” Aiden is unnerved by the description of the crime scene.
“No, nothing else yet. CSU is going to be running tests for a while. It could take weeks before we know if there are any other suspects, but right now Shay looks guilty as hell.” I empty the bottle and put it on the coffee table. I wish it weren’t true, but she’s the prime suspect.
The doorbell rings; this time it is the Chinese food. I go to get the door.
Aiden announces, “I’m hitting the head.”
“You remember where it is?”
“Yeah.” Aiden turns the wrong way down the hallway. That fucker better not wake her up.
I answer the door and lead Ping into the kitchen to put the food down. He hands me the receipt.
“Thanks Ping, best stuff around!” I sign the credit card receipt, sure to leave a good tip. He’s always good to me.
“No problem Mr. Walker. I put a little something special in there for you.” His eyes twinkle a little.
“Did you slip me some Tsingtao Dark?” I ask in a mischievous tone.
He nods enthusiastically. “Yes sir, Mr. Walker. Our little secret.” He puts his finger to his lips, making a shh sound as he heads for the door.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as Aiden returns to the room. “Hey man, you want some Chinese
If I’m going to let him in I need to set some ground rules. “You can come in, but this is my home and it’s a no-bullshit zone.”
Aiden doesn't like not calling the shots. He takes too long to answer; all I can do is shake my head. “This isn’t about us, this is about her. She needs us both, and if we can’t get along we are both abandoning her.” I have to bite my tongue to keep from cutting him deeper with the abandonment crack.
“You're right.” Aiden spits the words out like they are poison and pushes past me, putting the coffee on the breakfast bar. “So let’s get a few things straight when it comes to Shay.”
Aw shit, here we go. I run my fingers through my hair but before he gets started I stop him. “Aiden, the only thing we need to have straight about Shay is that she has her own mind, her own opinions. Why don’t we just give her some peace?”
“You’re going to leave her alone?” Aiden is doubtful that’s what I’m implying.
“If she wants me to leave her alone I will. I have always respected her choices, regardless of whether I agreed with them or not.” I’m reminded of all the times I’ve just let her go, so she could get screwed over again by him.
Aiden lets out a quick laugh and shakes his head. “I can live with that.”
“Okay.” I know what he’s saying, but at least he’s not saying it out loud, which is strange for Aiden. Whatever, time to wind down. I head for the fridge. “Want a beer?”
“Sure.” Aiden takes the beer and we head for the great room.
I sit in the most comfortable chair and lean back, closing my eyes. ”Hell of a day, huh?”
“Never a dull moment with her.” Aiden smiles, but it quickly fades. “So what happened?”
“Nothing really. You know how she is. She started getting nostalgic and talking about when we were in Atlanta. Then a walk down memory lane led to some-” I look up from my respite to see Aiden’s displeased expression and stop cold.
“I mean with Gary and Alice.” His tone is flat.
“Oh.” Whoops. I take a second to think about it—this requires another swig from my beer. “It was so awful. Gary was cut to pieces, and CSU couldn’t find his organs.” I choke back a belch before I continue, “Alice was hung upside down from the rafters in the garage. Gary’s eyes were on the floor in front of her. Whoever did this has serious issues.” I shake my head, pulling my lips to the side, forming a half-grimace.
“Do you know if they have any leads other than Shay?” Aiden is unnerved by the description of the crime scene.
“No, nothing else yet. CSU is going to be running tests for a while. It could take weeks before we know if there are any other suspects, but right now Shay looks guilty as hell.” I empty the bottle and put it on the coffee table. I wish it weren’t true, but she’s the prime suspect.
The doorbell rings; this time it is the Chinese food. I go to get the door.
Aiden announces, “I’m hitting the head.”
“You remember where it is?”
“Yeah.” Aiden turns the wrong way down the hallway. That fucker better not wake her up.
I answer the door and lead Ping into the kitchen to put the food down. He hands me the receipt.
“Thanks Ping, best stuff around!” I sign the credit card receipt, sure to leave a good tip. He’s always good to me.
“No problem Mr. Walker. I put a little something special in there for you.” His eyes twinkle a little.
“Did you slip me some Tsingtao Dark?” I ask in a mischievous tone.
He nods enthusiastically. “Yes sir, Mr. Walker. Our little secret.” He puts his finger to his lips, making a shh sound as he heads for the door.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as Aiden returns to the room. “Hey man, you want some Chinese
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